Pune blast: What next for India-Pakistan dialogue?

Less then two weeks before India and Pakistan are to restart a semblance of dialogue suspended in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, comes another blast in neighbouring Pune.

It is being called a terror attack but no group has so far claimed responsibility or been identified.

It could be a homegrown group or one supported from outside.

Either way it turns out, it is going to affect the talks.

Pakistan wants the Kashmir issue to be on the dialogue agenda while India wants to focus on “terrorism“.

In case the group or persons behind the attack turn out to be Indians, it will strengthen Pakistan’s argument that both countries are victims of such attacks and they should not be allowed to derail diplomacy.

In case the blast is linked to Pakistan, it will be seen as a provocation the Indian government, given political compulsions, would not like to be seen taking lying down.

Are the so called ‘non-state actors’ acquiring a greater role in what used to be the province of sovereign governments?

Should the dialogue process be insulated in some way from such attacks?

As to so called non state actors or so called vigilantes acquiring an increasing role, the answer has to be a resounding yes. While the Pakistani component resorts to terror tactics, with bombs and RDX, the Indian component believes more in cultural terrorism and uses stones, match boxes and lathis. In both cases however, the State turns a blind eye, either because it is cowed down by them or thinks it is politically convenient. They don’t seem to realise that inaction jeopardises and renders their own authority redundant and ineffective. They just don’t get it.

One cannot insulate the dialogue from the attacks until the government is seen to be clean and is not looked upon as being a silent partner which uses terror groups as strategic allies to wage a proxy war. Upto a point it can be tolerated, but to my mind the tipping point was reached on 26/11. That is why there is no great enthusiasm for all this start talk business as far as the common man goes. He has no faith or hopes in them.

Ambassador Harriet Isom quoted recently through a study by an NGO that 3/4 of people in Pakistan of all shades and grades believe that first they are Muslims and only second they feel as Pakistanis. Then she also observed that this makes it easy for the Islamic organisations involved in hardline terrorist and jihadi activities in Pakistan to attract the support & workers from the people.

We all know how the muslims have been recruited from various parts of Islamic World to be trained and transported to Afghanistan and Kashmir as non-state actors but with a covert support of established Pakistani Institutions like ISI and Military.

Now that it has started bitting Pakistan, they are now crying foul against these players in a new brand name of non-state actors (a crude lie) and Pakistan is attempting to wash their hands off this murky trade. Not only that, Pak sent these fugitives a clear signal and license too, of committing these grievous offences as and where they like. A free license to Hafiz Md Saeed type Inc from their land. Confer this latest Pune carnage.

Pakistan brands them as foreign terrorists beyond their control. Can a civilised society and world accept such lame excuses? Thus the roots of terrorism are not just limited to Af/Pak bed but they are entrenched deep in the very Ideology of a religion itself preached through Mosque-Madarsa deadly combination. Or else the present elected Pak Govt. is unfit for “Governance”, reflected in the fact that since 1947, Pak has been mostly ruled by the Military Dictators.

It is a bigger danger to the survival of the legitimate State of Pakistan itself, and the civil world community at large.

Is Mosque-Madarsa a new system and coincided with the invent of terrorism? No.

I know at least one Mosque-Madarsa friend of mine from India, a colleague of mine in US. He was in this system at XYZ place in India. he knows the religious scripture and went on to do his Ph.D in Europe and is doing well. Mosque-Madarsa could not hold him, why others. I’ll add, he had to change a lot and is very open person, receptive to new things–not rigid in his ideology and opinions. Many notorious terrorists go to the best schools in the world in Europe/US and are born abroad.

This could be just half truth. Do you think abolishing Mosque-Madarsa in Pakistan will reduce terrorism. Marginal reduction at best, probably. Things are more complex. labeling Islamic as terrorism is not completely true then why do we stop labeling as terrorists/militants the Hindu fundamentalists who burn Muslims. What makes that happen.

Pakistanis are a special case and I interact with Muslims from many countries in US, who do not have any hatred against India or Hindus, despite Kashmir issue.

I am not trying to takeout the religion angle out of terrorism but demolition of Mosque-Madarsa system will not solve the issues. Pakistanis are taught all this in their normal schools. Pakistan has identity problem and that explains many issues.

RajeevK,
Thanx for your concern and regards. You just picked up one point out of my whole observation, which is only a small part. The concept of Madarsa (which means only a school) may not be new. But the format and their style of teaching through this combination concept is certainly a part of definite worry shown by a lot of investigators world over.

I have also a lot of Muslims in my contact. I spent a lot of time in Europe and Middle East. But the Muslims in discussion are not whom you and I meet. It is not just a question of Pakistan. Presently the most violent terrorists are Muslims world over. Whenever they come in majority, start creating law and order problems. Muslim fanaticism has become a global threat. India is a worst sufferer.

As the rule goes, “One fish spoils the pond; Exception makes the rule”. If the exception keep repeating, despite
the obvious occurrences, the counter current of rebuff and repercussions is bound to happen.

Your Comment on Hindu terrorism may be a bit of an exaggeration, in my opinion, because this was a reflection of frustration in Gujarat (if that is your reference). But I have yet to see a Hindu mujahidin going to Saudi arabia or any other Muslim country as a
Fidayin.

It is not just Pakistanis. They are not a problem. They are only a reflection of a bigger global problem. We can go on arguing at any length but that will not change the picture. Seeing things staying abroad and while at home are completely different.

Anyway, I may agree with you only to disagree on this point. But the growing menace of Islamic fundamentalism does raise a concern. Recent Muslim reactions in mainland India and Kashmir are frightening. As a scientist, you start laying certain hypotheses to your presumed/observed problems. Further the things that were or appeared innocuous yesterday, does not confirm their validity for eternity.